Conveyer construction



Nov. 30, 1954 v. e. ELLEN CONVEYER CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9, 1950 1:7 INVENTOR.

Mien/524% [1.1.511

.Nov. 30, 1954 i v. G. ELLEN 2,695,702

CONVEYER CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1950 I BY M Nov. 30, 1954 v. e. ELLEN 2,595,702

CONVEYER CONSTRUCTION Filed June 9, 1950 i :s Sheets-Sheet :s

. IN VEN TOR. Mae/we 6. 21. EN

i United States PatentO and-aflower flange 210.

GONVEYERCONSTRUCTION V'erner G. Ellen, Minneapolis, Minn., by decree "of 'distribution; to Clara May Ellen for the term of her natural lifefwith remainder after' her death to Donald. Fitch Ellen, George'Tanigawa,' and Vernon Clarence Winters ApplicationJune 9, -1: 9"50, Serial NO. 167,125

4 Claims. '(Cl.'198--208) This inventionrelates to a conveyor, and particularly to' a conveyor adaptedto-be used-in stores, factories and other-places where it is -desired to convey articles for some distance, which articles usually go through some processing steps, such as being dipped into tanks containing liquid.

It isan object-of this invention to provide asimple and efiicient conveyor comprising a chain formed of connected oblong links, adjacentlinks being disposed in planes substantially at right angles to each other, together with simple and eflicient means for supporting and guiding said chain in its movement.

lt is a further object of the invention to provide such a conveyor asset forth :in the zpreceding paragraph, said chain having members secured to one set of the links thereof and projecting in the; plane of said llinks respectivelyfor supporting the articlesto be carried bysaid conveyor, together witha driving sprocket constructed and arranged to have said chain fit therein and comprising fri'ction'ally held members which may slip if said chain is'stopped for any reason,such :as one of the articles carried encountering a stationary-object.

it is another object of the invention to provide such a conveyor as set forth in the preceding paragraphs, the same comprising casings having sheaves or rollers journaled therein and having arms extending at an angle to each other with guiding means fitting in and secured in said arms.

Th'eseand other objects and advantages 'of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description.

made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the-several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a typical arrangement of the conveyor;

\ Fig.- 2 is a partial view in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan viewof a driving sprocket used;

Fig. -4 is a vertical section taken on .line 4-4 of Fig. 3, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is avertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, as :indicated bythe arrows;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 66 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows, Figs. 4, 5 and 6 being shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 7 is a partial plan view showing a chain tightening means;

-Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 7, some 'parts being broken away and others shown in vertical section;

Fig. 9 .is ajplan view similar to Fig. 7, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation showing a sheave, casing and chain .guides; and

Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on line 11'11 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, a conveyor is shown in which the moving element comprisesna chain 20 formed of simple connected oblong .links and adjacent links are disposed in planes substantially at right angles to each other. The chain is driven by one or more driving sprockets 21, and in the embodiment of the invention illustrated this sprocket comprises an outer annular portion21a having at its periphery an upper flange 21b and The lower flange 2 10 is formed with circumferentially sspacedaprojections or teeth 21d and these on their upper surfaces are' provided #with curved recesses 21a to (accommodate the vertical .l-inks'in chain 20. The upper flangezlb iis provided with'circumferentia'lly spaced recesses zlfofrsemi-elliptical form to-accornm'oda'te the upper portion of the vertical links of chain 20. Portion 2la also has a peripheral 'groove zlg between flanges 21b and 210, the same having a semicylindrical inner side. 'The vertical links of chain 20 e'ach have secured thereto; preferably by welding, a depending member or rod 23, the same being disposed in theplan'e of the link to which itisattached and preferably centrally thereof. The portion 21a of sprocketll lhas cylindrical recesses 2111 at its top and bottom, the sarnetforming an inner annular flange -21i which is of much less:th-i'ckness than the outer portion of the sprocket. A plate 21j is disposed in the lower recess 2111 and the sameh'as' on its inner or upper face an 'annular layer of frictional material 21k which is held in place by suitable circurnferentially spaced screws 21m having their heads countersunk in said layer. Plate 21 is provided with a central hub on its lower side. Another plate 2111 is disposed in the upper rec'essZ lh and has an annular layer 210 of frictional material secured thereto, as by the 'circumferentially spaced countersunk screws 21m. Plate 2111 has a thicker central portion which extends some distance 'into the central opening: of portion 210. .As shown in Fig. 4, the layersZlk and 210 of frictional material engage the opposite sides of the fiange 21L Plate 21 7: has a central .hub .at its upper side and a 'driving shaft 24 extendssthrough plates 2lj and 2171 and through the hubs thereof and is secured to said hubs in any suitable manner, as by the pins 26. A plurality o'f circumferentially spaced headed bolts-2'5 extend through plate 21 and-are threaded into plateZln. Compression coiled springs 22 surround bolts 25'respectivelyand bear at their ends against washers 25a. One set of washers 25a engage the heads of boltsZS respectively and the other set are 'disposed .in recesses in lower plateZlj.

As shown in Fig. .2, shaft 24 extends upward through a supportingmember27 having vertically spaced plates or flanges and is journaled in a bearing 28 secured to the lower of said flanges by circumferentially spaced headed and nutted bolts '29. Immediately above bearing 28 shaft 24 has secured thereto agear 31andsaid shaft then extends upwardly through the upper plate of member -27 and is 'journaled "in another bearing 32 secured to said upper plate by circum'ferentially spaced headed and nutted bolts 33. Gear 31 meshes with a smaller gear 35 carried 'on a shaft 36 which forms the 'lowspeed shaft of ageanreduction unit 37 which is connected to an electric motor l'llsecured to the upper plate of member 27 by the headed bolts 41. The motor 40 and speed reduction unit 37 are well known articles of commerce and form no part 'of the present invention.

Assuming the sprocket 21 is driven in a counter-clockwise direction, the chain is pulled around the. sprocket and then passes 'to a guide member 42. The chain has a tendency to follow around the sprocket and a member 43 is provided suitably supported from the lower plate of member 27 which has a pointed end extending close to the bottom of groove 21gand this guides the chain and prevents it from following around or sticking to the sprocket. ln practice member 43 has beenmade of round material. The guiding member 42 comprisesspaced channels 42a, such as shown in Fig. 6, the same having their flanges facing each other. Said channels extend between and substantially fit between the depending sides of a bracket 45. Aplate 46, such as shown in Fig. 6, engages the bottoms of the upper flanges of channels 42a and clamps the same against" the top portion of bracket 45. A threaded rod or bolt 47 has a head engagingthebottom 'of plate 46, said bolt extending between the upper flanges of channels 42a and through-an opening in bracket 45 and through an opening in the lower plate or flange ofmember 27. A nut 48 is threaded onto the bolt and engages the top of said lower plate. The channels 42a are thus held firmly in proper position.

The guide member 42 extends into one arm5tla of a casing 50 having a central bodyportion and having projecting therefrom another arm 50b. As shown in Fig. 2, arms SOa and 5012 are disposed at an obtuse angle to each other. The channels 42a of member -42 are secured-to arm 50a and for this purpose a plate 51 similar to plate 46 engages the bottoms of the upper flanges of channels 42a and clamps the same against the top of casing 50. A bolt 52 has a head engaging the bottom of plate 51 and passes between said upper flanges and through an open-' ing in the top of casing 50. A nut 53 is threaded on bolt 52 and engages the top of casing 50 or its arm 50a. The sides 50c of the central portion of casing 50 diverge downwardly and are provided with hubs 50d at their outer sides. Shafts 55 are secured in the sides 50 in any suitable manner, as by pins 56, and rollers 57 have bearings 58 held therein and rotate on shafts 55 respectively. In practice bearings 58 are forced into rollers 57. Shafts 55 have heads at their inner sides acting to hold rollers 57 thereon. As shown in Fig. 5, rollers 57 are of frusto conical shape and their inner sides are disposed at an angle to each other so that their top surfaces are substantially horizontal. The chain 20 passes over the rollers 57, the horizontal links of the chain extending between rollers 57 and engaging the tops thereof while the vertical links and members 23 connected thereto pass between said rollers. Portions of the vertical links and the members 23 travel in the space between the lower flanges of channels 42a.

After passing over the rollers 57 the chain passes through a guide member 59 which is held in arm 50b by a structure identical with that described as holding guide member 42 in arm 50a. Guide member 59 extends into an arm 60a of a casing 60, said casing having another arm 60b projecting therefrom. As shown in Fig. 2, arms 60a and 60b are disposed at an acute angle to each other. Casing 60 is supported from a supporting beam 61 by a hanger bar 62 which has a horizontal flange 62a adjacent its upper end engaging one flange of beam 61 and secured thereto by a headed bolt 63. The lower end of bar 62 has a horizontal flange 62b and a headed bolt 64 extends therethrough and is threaded into a boss on the top of casing 60. Casing 60 has side portions with central hubs thereon and a shaft 66 is supported in said hubs on which is journaled a sheave 67 having a peripheral groove therein. Casing 60 has a slot extending through its lower portion and while this might be variously formed, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is formed by steel strips or straps 68 secured to the outer side of casing 60 by spaced bolts or rivets 69. It will be seen that the vertically disposed links of chain 20 will travel in the groove in the lower portion of sheave 67 while the horimembers 42, 59 and 74. A similar guide member 81 has its ends secured in arms 8% by bolts 52, the structure being identical with that shown in Fig. 5.

Supporting members 83 are provided having depending sides similar to brackets 76 and the ends of the guide members 74 are secured therein by bolts 52 with a structure similar to that shown in Fig. 6. Members 83 are provided with brackets 83a projecting upwardly from their upper sides which constitute hanger brackets and which will be supported by bolts or rods 84 from a suitable support or beam not shown. Arms 80a have secured to their top sides by bolts 52 and 86, a channel shaped. bracket 87. Bolt 52 is similar to that shown in Fig. 6. A screw 90 is journaled in the arms of bracket 87 and nuts 91 engage the remote sides of said arms holding screw 90 in place in bracket 87. Screw 90 is threaded into the bracket or hanger 83a and a nut 92 engages one side of said hanger. The guide members 75 are slidable in the supports 83. Screw 90 has an end 90a square or polygonal in cross section and can thus be turned with a wrench. It will thus be seen that if screw 90 is turned, it will be moved and the casings 80 with guide member 81 will be moved away from members 83, the guide members 75 sliding in members 83. Screw 90 therefore constitutes a means for tightening the chain 20 should it become too loose. The chain passes around the sheaves '77 in casings 80, through guide member 81 and into one zontally disposed links will ride on and extend between strips 68. The members 23 on the vertically disposed links will also travel in the slot between plates 68.

After passing around sheave 67 in casing 60, the chain passes into another guide member 59 identical with the guide member 59 already described, the ends of which are secured in arms 60b and in an arm 70a of a casing 70 having another projecting arm 70b. Guide member 59 is secured in arms 60b and 70a respectively by bolts 52 already described. Casing 70 is identical with casing already described and has journaled therein rollers 71 rotatable on shafts 72 carried in casing 70, said parts 71 and 72 being identical with the parts 57 and shown in Fig. 5. After passing over the rollers 71, the chain enters another guide member 74 identical in construction with guide members 42 and 59. Guide member 74 is secured in arm 70b by a bolt 52, the construction being identical with that shown in Fig. 5. It may be noted that casings 50, and have ribs at their outer sides transversely aligned with the bolts 52. Guide member 74 may be supported by a bracket 76 illustrated in Fig. 6. The guide member 74 is composed of spaced channels designated 42a in Fig. 6, which fit between the sides of bracket 76 and are clamped to the top thereof by the plate 46 and a threaded rod 73. Rod 73 has a nut 73a thereon engaging the top of bracket 76. Rod 73 can extend upwardly to a suitable supporting member or beam 79 and pass therethrough, the same being provided with a nut 82 engaging the top of member 79.

The chain passes through guide members 74 and then into another guide member 75. The chain then passes around a sheave 77 carried on a shaft 78 in a casing 80. Two of the casings 80 are shown, each having a central portion substantially circular in plan and arms 80a and 80b projecting at right angles to each other. Arms 80a of the casings 80 each have the guide members secured therein. Guide members 75 are identical with the guide of the guide members 74. As shown in Fig. 9 casings 80 have portions 800 with pointed ends and end surfaces disposed closely adjacent the peripheries of sheaves 77. These members 800 prevent the chain from following around or sticking to the sheaves 77 and are commonly called pickers. Said casings 80 have slots 80d in their lower sides through which the vertical links and members 23 pass or travel as the chain moves around sheaves 77. After passing through guide members 74, the chain enters a casing 94 having a central portion and projecting arms 94a and 94b. A guide member 95 identical in structure with the guide members 42, 59 and 74 extends from arm 94a to the arm 94a of a similar casing 94 also having an arm 94b. A supporting bracket 76 is shown for guide member 95 which is similar to that shown in Fig. 6. It will be understood that such supporting brackets may be used wherever it is necessary and wherever there is quite a long guideway. Casings 94 are similar in all.

respects to casings 80 except that the arms thereof extend at an obtuse angle. The guide members 74 and 75 are secured in their respective arms by bolts 52 with a structure already described and which is shown in Fig. 6. Casings 94 have hubs at opposite sides in which are secured shafts 96, and sheaves 97 are rotatable about the axes of shafts 96. Sheaves 97 have grooved peripheries and casings 94 have slots in their lower sides through which the vertical links of the chain in members 83 pass. After leaving the arm 94b, chain 20 again passes around the sprocket 21. It will be seen that the casings 94 are used to make an offset in the travel of the chain.

In operation, motor 40 will be driven and gear 35 will be driven at the desired speed within the range of reduction unit 37. Gear 31 will be driven and will drive sprocket 21 and move chain 20. Should the chain be stopped for any reason, as by an article carried on one of the members 23 contacting a stationary member, the plates 21 and 2111 can slip on the flange 2li. No breakage or damage will thus occur. The degree of friction between plates 21 21m and flange 21i can be varied by turning bolts 25 to more or less compress the springs 22.

As already described the chain moves through the guideways and over the rollers and sheaves in the various casings 50, 60, 70, 80 and 94. The members 23 move freely through the slots between the channels forming the guide members and move between the rollers 57 and through the slots in the bottoms of casings 80 and 94.

The articles to be progressed can thus be carried horizontally or moved upwardly or downwardly as desired. It is often desirable to dip the articles in various liquids,

such as painting, coating or cleaning liquids, and this can be done by having the tank of liquid adjacent casing 60.

The chain can be tightened, as already described, by,

means of the screw 90. The structure of the various parts is simple and the parts can be connected and arranged to give the desired travel to the chain and articles. The parts are readily disassembled and can be readily assembled to" give the desired results. i

The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice, found to be very successful and eflicient and the same is being commercially made.

It will. of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A conveyor having in combination, a chain comprising connected oblong links, adjacent links being disposed in planes substantially at right angles to each other, one set of said links having members secured to one side thereof and extending in the plane of said links respectively, a casing having a central body portion and arms extending therefrom at an angle to each other, a sheave journaled in said central portion about a substantially vertical axis, said arms having openings therein substan' tially tangential to said sheave, a pair of spaced channels extending into each of said openings respectively, means securing said channels to said arms, a bracket secured to the top of said casing over one of said arms, a screw journaled in said bracket, nuts on said screw engaging the sides of said bracket, a member embracing one pair of said channels adjacent said one arm in which said pair of channels is slidable, a second member on said member in which said screw is threaded, said screw being constructed and arranged to be rotated for moving said casing and said one pair of channels away from said first mentioned member to tighten said chain, said chain running over said sheave and through said arms and channels.

2. A conveyor having in combination, a chain comprising connected oblong links, adjacent links being disposed in planes substantially at right angles to each other, members secured to alternate ones of said links and depending in the planes of said links respectively, a sprocket for driving said chain having top and bottom flanges with a groove therebetween, said bottom flange having circumferentially spaced teeth between which said members respectively pass, the plane of said members being substantially at right angles to the plane of said sprocket, said sprocket comprising an outer annular portion having cylindrical recesses at each side forming an inner annular flange of reduced thickness, plates disposed respectively in said recesses and substantially flush with the outer sides of said annular portion, layers of frictional material secured to said plates respectively and engaging opposite sides of said flange, a driving shaft secured centrally to said plates, circumferentially spaced bolts extending movably through one of said plates between said flange and said shaft and threaded into the other of said plates, and compression coiled springs disposed between the heads of said bolts and the plate through which said bolts extend whereby if said members engage a stationary object and stop said chain and sprocket said plates can slip on said annular flange and prevent breakage.

3. A conveyor having in combination, a chain of connected oblong links having oblong openings therein, -adjacent links being disposed in planes substantially at right angles to each other, a casing having a substantially cylindrical central body portion and arms extending therefrom at an angle to each other, a sheave journaled in said casing having a cylindrical periphery with a groove extending centrally about the same, said arms having openings substantially tangential to said sheave, spaced channels extending into and fitting in said openings respectively, said channels having their flanges facing each other and in transverse alinement, a plate extending between the upper flanges of said channels and engaging the inner surfaces thereof, a threaded rod having a head engaging the bottom surface of said plate and extending vertically between the edges of the upper flanges of said channels and through said casing, and a nut threaded on said rod and engaging the top of said casing, said chain having one set of links extending into said groove and the other set engaging said periphery, said one set riding on the bottom flanges of said channels and said other set moving between said flanges.

4. A conveyor having in combination, a chain comprising connected oblong links having oblong openings therethrough, adjacent links being disposed in planes substantially at right angles to each other, a support and guide for said chain comprising spaced channels with their open sides facing each other and their flanges in transverse alinement, a bracket having a top and depending sides, said channels fitting in said bracket with the outer and remote sides of said channels engaging the sides of said bracket, a plate extending between and engaging the lower surfaces of the upper flanges of said channels, said bracket having a central opening through its top, a threaded rod extending through said plate and having a head engaging the underside of said plate, said rod extending between said upper flanges and through said opening, a member threaded on said rod and engaging the top of said bracket for holding said plate against said flanges, said rod extending upwardly and being constructed and arranged to be secured in a. supporting member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 581,131 Pancoast Apr. 20, 1897 593,869 Wrigley Nov. 16, 1897 595,180 Kuster Dec. 7, 1897 708,060 Meyer Sept. 2, 1902. 741,918 Mackrow et a1 Oct. 20, 1903 776,836 Gower Dec. 6, 1904 1,737,090 Meyers Nov. 26, 1929 2,101,685 Nisbet Dec. 7, 1937 2,349,578 Ellen May 23, 1944 2,433,697 Hulse Dec. 30, 1947 2,569,947 Orwin Oct. 2, 1951 

